Specifically, how much is it worth in a split donation, half to the Obama campaign and half to Wendy Rosen's campaign?
Take a look below the orange arabesque, tell me what you think, and I'll tell you why I'm asking the question.
"In my darkest hour...."
Years ago, I used to paint. I'm no da Vinci, but I wasn't awful. I painted my own Christmas cards, a friend's baby shower gift, and a few truly gorgeous pieces I still keep. Colored pencil, charcoal and conte, pastels, pen and ink, watercolor, gouache. Never oil or acrylic. It's soothing.
Fiber and needle arts, especially sewing, have helped with the household bills. I'd hoped to have enough extra for a couple of donations. I even pledged to do so, when I thought things were going to start working out in my favor. But, we've had a few problems with cash flow -- the bank goofed up some details on our mortgage mod, my husband's hours were cut back, and I need to go see a neurologist ASAP. I'm having pain issues that disrupt my sleep and make several key steps in cutting and managing yards of fabric difficult to do. It's easier, and far less painful, to sit at my artist's table and paint. Money, therefore, is tight.
This is the second serious painting I've done in many, many years. It feels good to hold brush and pen, meld feeling and soul into image. It's magical. It's healing. Would I like to keep it for my portfolio? Sure. But I'm hoping someone will be willing to buy it. I don't want the money sent to me, though.
I want the buyer to send equal halves of their offered price to the Obama campaign and the Rosen campaign (she's running against teapublican Andy Harris, MD, in Maryland's 1st district). Here's Ms. Rosen's website and here's our President's.
Why the split? Well, face it: if we want things to change, we need to kick the teabaggers out of Congress, and send some more and better Democrats to DC. Obama can't do it all alone -- he needs a Democratic House and Senate to do the legislative branch's job. And trust me, we really, really do not want Dr. Harris to win two more years in the House.
Now, about the painting. It's actually not as hopeless a piece as you might think. The rain is sluicing down, driven by the wind, laced with hail. It's the kind of pitch-black night that makes you want to cower under the covers. By the window, on an end table, one lit candle glows, reflected in the window pane. One little candle against the tempest. It feels like the wind and rain and hail could come right through that window, demolish that safety. But the candle still burns, a beacon and a comfort in the darkest hours. Here it is again, larger:
So I'll ask again: who wants to buy a painting? All it takes is proof of donations made in equal amounts to these two campaigns, which you can send to my kosmail. It doesn't have to be a lot, just what you can afford. Then kosmail me your mailing information, and I will pop it into a tube and send it to you through the USPS.
6:19 PM PT: WE HAZ A BUYER!!!! cohenzee gets the painting, and both campaigns get $36.00! Thank you, cohenzee, for helping me help the Obama/ Biden and Rosen campaigns. I really appreciate it.